What is Loving Service

Loving service is NHI's method for addressing inequities, and serves as our primary funding source.

“Loving service is giving without expecting anything in return. The ability to serve someone in need can be a gift in itself.”

Loving service is a term we have given to a communal ethic of trusting friendships that are the foundation for addressing injustices and moving toward a more equitable, caring society. Loving service is our way of describing the currency of Indian communities, where the titles, degrees, and one's financial wealth are not as important as one's willingness to help family and community members, one's desire to sacrifice their time and resources for the greater good. Loving service, then, is not something unique to NHI, but is a way of being that we have adopted from Indigenous communities. Honoring its roots, we understand loving service as a circular concept, not one that can be linearized into a definition. Whenever possible, we use Indigenous terms/concepts to explain its meaning, recognizing that “love” is not a term used in some Tribes.
A'jooba and Nalyeeh- two Navajo words used to describe Loving service; the first means “to have mercy, no matter what” and the second means “to give back, what you owe.”
Why do we choose loving service:
1) It is a return to an Indigenous currency, one where money is not central, but instead one's sincerity and goodness toward others is most valued. As one Pueblo elder said, “I see our young leaders today, and all they are after is money. They have forgotten that our relations with others is what is most important to us Indian people.”
2) It inspires a human-to-human element to our work, a communal ethic that minimizes the ego and maximizes all of the qualities we hope to amplify in our partnership (caring for one another, kindness, honesty, trust, )
3) It builds on the strength of Indigenous communities, and helps to educate our volunteers, our partner organizations, and academic and governmental institutions about this aspect of these communities.

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NHI PROGRAMS

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YOUTH LEADING THE WAY

Spring/Summer 2016 project grants

Who: Youth between the ages of 8-20 year old

Application deadline: Rolling admission

These competitive grants honor our youth by giving the chance to create and carry out projects that will better their communities.

Breathe Tradition, Not Addiction Campaign

Since NHI’s inception, the reclaiming of traditional, ceremonial, medicinal, and sacred use of tobacco has been a large part of our work. For too long, commercial tobacco companies have expoited Indigenous images and names to sell their toxic tobacco and it is time that we take back tobacco to its proper place as plants of spiritual power with the power to heal, not as a cancer-causing agent that is smoked and chewed for recreation.

Highlights of our Campaign

* “Breathe Tradition, Not Addiction” educational sessions with Indigenous youth in in NC and NM

* Supporting the Coharie Smoke Free Hawks in their mission to promote use of traditional tobacco and prevent the use of commercial tobacco in their community

* Building a grassroots coalition to stand in opposition to, and fight for the removal of, the Lumbee cigarette

Decolonize Tobacco – Breathe Tradition, Not Addiction t-shirts. Created by SABA Wear (Stop Assimilating By Adapting) in conjunction with NHI, these shirts are available for purchase. $15 gets you a shirt, and orders of 20 or more are $13 per shirt. 100% of the proceeds will go to fund Youth Leading the Way project grants. Contact us if you would like to purchase shirts!

Hip Hop and Health

Hip Hop, Indigenous Culture and Health

How do they relate to each other? How can they be used to support each other?

These are the questions that hip hop artists, community leaders, youth and elders, and health professionals with NHI have been working to answer in the last 6 years…the work has been fulfilling, creative, and has worked to develop a consciousness in both health and hip hop communities about the potential for healing in this realm!

Highlights of NHI’s work in this realm

* Creation of Positively Hip Hop grants, inviting hip hop artists to apply for funds to support their work to improve the health of their community through hip hop (click here for application)

* Thinking Beyond the Boom Box: Hip Hop, Indigenous Culture, and Health has been presented at the New Mexico Public Health Association Conference (2014), and at the Words Beats and Life forum “Remixing the Art of Social Change” (2012)

Education is Ceremony College Scholarships

Purpose of the Scholarship: Assist Indigenous women and men of all ages to pursue their dreams through the ceremony of higher education.

Education as a way of Ceremony: In the same way that one can go through a traditional ceremony of purification, enlightenment and healing, we see higher education as a modern-day ceremony offering the same rewards. Traditional ceremonies require, and help nurture, one’s discipline, patience, gratitude; these same attributes are required and increased through the Ceremony of higher education.

Scholarship Amount: Ten (10) scholarships of $1000.00 will be awarded for the 2014-2015 academic year. The scholarships will be paid directly to you or your educational institution, to cover tuition expenses.

Summer Health Justice Internships

2016 Summer Health Justice Internships

We sincerely hope you will consider applying for our Summer 2014 internship to be hosted by NHI-NM/AZ (volunteers will serve in either NM or AZ for 5-weeks).

This a unique internship program in many respects:

1) It is run by Tribes and health professions students

2) The health projects are created and organized by the Tribal communities

3) There is minimal monetary funding that is used to run the internships. For instance, in the summer of 2008, there were 4,750 hours of “loving service” poured into the summer’s work, while only $3000 dollars was used by NHI to fund the work. In 2009, 6,000 total hours and less than $2,000!

IHLI – Indigenous Health Leadership Institute

2016 IHLI Indigenous Health Leadership Institute

learn about American Indian and Indigenous perspectives on health from community leaders, traditional healers, political activists, and health professionals

visit two local American Indian Tribes and talk with their elders, youth, and community leaders

participate in a community asset mapping exercise alongside community leaders as a unique form of community service

have time to focus on developing/improving a project that addresses injustices in health in your home communities

enjoy yourself, laugh lots, and learn some Navajo language!

join health professions students from diverse disciplines from across the country

be a part of the first-ever Indigenous health institute for health professions students in the United States!

Background to IHLI

Indigenous populations in the United States, ranging from the 800+ American Indian Tribes to less defined indigenous populations from Mexico, Latin America, South America and across the world, have unique cultures, perspectives on health, and health needs. This population lives sicker and dies younger than the general U.S. population, a trend seen worldwide with indigenous populations. Two core questions arise from this, which will serve as the foundation for IHLI:

Why is this?

What can we do about and not only change this situation, but to eliminate inequities in health amongst Indigenous and other marginalized populations?

What Attendees can expect:

– Once accepted, attendees will receive a 4-week primer on Indigenous culture and health to help them prepare for IHLI.

– We will also work with attendees to develop ideas for potential projects that address injustices in health in the weeks prior to IHLI.

– Once here in New Mexico (aka Land of Enchantment), you will be treated with “loving service” – home-cooked meals, host families/students, and community and student volunteers dedicated to making this a great weekend for you!

– The entirety of IHLI will take place in community sites, including American Indian reservations, giving attendees a unique perspective from which to learn about Indigenous health.

STAY IN TOUCH

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LATEST NEWS

Past and Upcoming Events

Last week, NHI kicked off it’s month long fun-raiser. We have had several donors, and picked our first weekly winner. Congratulations to Dakota Jim! She just won a Pendleton Bear. Please support our Native Health Initiative programs that provide Education on Indigenous Health perspectives, Cultural Exchange, Sustaining Community Health Projects, and Positive Youth Development through leadership,[…]

A one-day workshop in health and wellness, from the eyes of our local Indigenous communities, youth, elders, and healers. Workshop from 8am-3pm (traveling in the afternoon to Jemez Pueblo). To apply or for further information, please contact shannon@lovingservice.us

Gratitude Run/Walk hosted by Running Medicine and Bosque School Come celebrate Thanksgiving with us at a family-friendly, gratitude-filled fun run/walk Time: 8am on Thurs, 11/24 Place: Bosque School (4000 Bosque School Rd NW) Cost: FREE You are invited to bring donations for local families in need (winter clothing and non-perishable food items) as well as[…]

Our 3rd Celebrating Love event takes place this Sunday, 9/11 from 10-2pm at the Rail Yards Market. Alden Reviere and a team of volunteers have put together a great day of events. We only need you and your energy to make it complete. If you come to Rail Yards on Sunday, bring gifts to share[…]

For those of you joining us and who have not registered yet….We have registration forms available, but you would still pay at practice (check or cash). Youth registration. Adult registration. Medicine Miles (document your miles daily, even for days you are not at RM practices). Any further questions, please contact Anthony Fleg (afleg@salud.unm.edu)

Join us Wednesday, August 24th at Jemez Senior Center at 110 Shee[ Springs Cir, Jemez. Come join us on August 24th to celebrate Pueblo running! It is our traditional medicine that has kept our people strong and healthy through the blessings received when we run. Running is Medicine is the cross between traditional medicine[…]